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Opera moves data centre operations to Iceland

Tony Chan | May 25, 2010 | 0 Comments

Just after we profiled a company that is building a wholesale data centre offering in Iceland, we learned that browser developer, Opera Software, has also hit upon the same idea – at least about moving its data centre operations to the island nation.

According to Norway-based Opera, it is now moving a large portion of its data processing to a facility called, the new Thor Data Centre – being developed by Thor DC, an Icelandic company founded by a handful of Icelandic entrepreneurs. The Thor Data Centre, located at Steinhella in Hafnarfijorour – the third largest city in Iceland, is the world’s most eco-friendly data centre, Opera said.

The Thor Data Centre is the first data centre offering to go commercial in Iceland, an event so important that it will be attended by both the Icelandic President, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, and Ministry of Industry, Katrin Juliusdottir.

“The reason Opera Software came to sign an agreement with Thor Data Center is that the company can offer us energy from 100% renewable sources,” said Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, found of Opera Software. “In coming years Iceland will be able to provide a more stable supply of energy than most other areas in the world. This fact, combined with the excellent technical knowledge of Thor DC’s staff, is the main reason why Opera Software has decided to base its data conversion in Iceland.”

According to Opera, the data center has secured 3.2 megawatts of electricity to be provided by HS Energy on the Reykjanes peninsula, which is extendable up to 19.2 megawatts.

The Thor facility, working with a Spanish supplier, also leveraged the latest container-based data centre construction technology to dramatically shorted time to market.

“Preparations for the establishment of the data center began 18 months ago. The short time frame, from the founding of the company until it has become ready to offer data storage services to international customers, was made possible through new data center technology,” Opera said. “This technology allows data centers to be composed of smaller units (so-called data containers), which offer added flexibility in scaling any such ventures.”

At the same time, the Opera move is expected to stimulate the international connectivity market into the country.

“Opera’s Icelandic operations will generate a vast increase in data transfer through the FARICE and DANICE sub-sea cables,” the company said, who has signed an agreement with Icelandic telco, E-Farice.

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